§ Mr. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Air Force Station, Hendon.
Mr. WardRoyal Air Force Station, Hendon, has been closed to flying and the R.A.F. Metropolitan Communications Squadron transferred from Hendon to Northolt in order to concentrate at one airfield all the Base facilities needed for R.A.F. flying in the London area. The station will continue in use by R.A.F. ground units.
The use of the airfield by flying clubs and for light aircraft generally has been studied by my Department with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. My right hon. Friend and I consider that the advantages of transferring air traffic from Hendon to Northolt would be prejudiced by the serious air traffic control difficulties which would arise if Hendon were to continue in use for this type of flying. However, we see a possibility of the airfield being brought back into use at some future date for aircraft such as helicopters, short take-off and landing and vertical take-off aircraft. A study is being 41W made of interim uses of the airfield which would be consistent with this future flying use.